I need a "Home Sweet Home" sign.

I finally finished my clinicals on July 22nd.  Never again will I be forced to work for free!  It was such a relief to be done with this stage and continue to move on, but I still had one major thing to accomplish...pass my board exam (more on that on another post).

Anyway, one day during that time that I was studying, I was lying on the couch alone at home reading away when I heard someone drive up.  We live on some of my dad and uncle's farm land so multiple times a day I would hear someone drive up to the barn/grain bin/etc.  I just assumed it was something to do with that.  The next thing I know, my front door opened and an older man (70's maybe?) stepped just inside my door and hollered "anyone home?!?".  No knock, no knock then go ahead and open the door, not even so much as a slowly open the door and peek your head in... WHO DOES THAT?!?  Talk about creepy...

I was completely surprised and shocked by this situation. I jumped up off the couch, hurried over to the door to make sure he didn't come in any more than he already had and asked him "can I help you" (insert tone of "what the heck are you doing in my house").  He looked at me then quickly looked across the house and asked, "where's Jesse?"  I told him that no one by that name lived here.  He responded, "well I'm looking for Jesse". 

After a brief awkward silence, I mentioned the name of a Jesse that I knew use to be in a bulldozing business with my grandfather and asked if that is who he needed.  He said it was.  I explained to him that Jesse and my granddaddy had a bulldozing business together but that my granddaddy passed away over 4 years ago and therefore the business is no longer together and that Jesse has no connection at with our house.

The man blankly looked at me, looked over by the barn (there are tractors and other equipment around our house but no bulldozers), then looks at me again and says, "well I need a tank cleaned out".  I said "I'm sorry I can't help you with that and the stuff you are looking at by the barn is all farm use only. Jesse has nothing to do with this location at all." 

You would think that by this point he would apologize for the misunderstanding and continue on his way.  No.  He went on to ask me how he can get a hold of Jesse.  I know I had to have a stunned look on my face.  What I really wanted to say was, "I don't know!  I have no connection with Jesse whatsoever.  I don't own a bulldozer and I can't clean out your tank.  Don't you know you can't just walk into strangers houses?  That's a good way to scare someone and get shot...  Maybe you should at least apologize for scaring me and wasting 5 minutes of my time.  Instead I simply replied, "I don't know, maybe look in a phone book?"

He finally left with no apology for the misunderstanding.  The best I can figure is the man thought our house was some bulldozing business office (not exactly a look I was going for).  I guess we do have truck scales almost directly in front of our house, and it's not your typical "home-like" location being surrounded by tractors and grain bins.  You would think he would at least act sorry once he got inside and realized that, in fact, it wasn't a business office.  He simply said "OK" and walked away.

Tip of the day (or for Kim, Chapter 48)--Always keep your doors locked.



This looks like someone lives here, right???



The barn he was so confused about.

We do have this tractor next to our house now.  NOT a bulldozer.

Let Go and Let God

So... pregnant.  Anyone else surprised? 

I asked my ob/gyn if he thought we needed to try to rush baby #2 given my medical situation.  He felt that it wasn't as urgent as before, but it was hard to know for sure. 

I had a hard time imagining having another child so soon.  However, Cody is the oldest of 4 boys (all within 6 years of each other).  He loved growing up with brothers all so close in age and he wanted our kids to be close together in age. 

Cody was ready, I didn't think I was.  I said it absolutely could not happen until after I took my PT licensure exam, passed it, and started working.  I was so sick when I was pregnant with Caden that I didn't think I could handle being pregnant and studying for the most important test of my life.  Plus I really needed to have an income before taking on another child.  I agreed to start trying after that.

The weekend of July 4th approached, and I got the feeling I needed to take a pregnancy test.  Cody just laughed at me thinking I had just convinced myself I was pregnant for no reason.  The test came back negative, and I enjoyed a few beers by the pool over the weekend.

Tuesday rolled around and I was a day late.  I told Cody I wasn't going to take another test.  He laughed at me again and asked why I didn't believe the first one.  It was negative.  This time Cody just shook his head and said, "told you". 

By Wednesday morning I was now 2 days late.  I was surprised by this and for some reason looked into the trash can at yesterdays pregnancy test.  Positive.  WHAT?!?  How does that even happen?  I didn't really think it could be true.  But, it was strange enough that I decided to take another test that night while Cody was in the shower.  I didn't even tell him I was taking it this time.  Positive. 

How did I break the news to Cody?  I interrupted his shower and show him the test.  I made him apologize and tell me I wasn't crazy after all. :) I had so many emotions going.... I was excited for this blessing, but I thinking about how I was going to get through my test, start a new career, and where in our 1000 sq. ft house we were going to fit another child and all the things that come with him/her.  Cody just couldn't quit smiling, and I love him for that.

The initial shock then wore off and I knew this was perfect.  You can't plan life.  Life just happens and you take it and enjoy it.  I have learned to trust God and that his plan is far better than any plans I have.  Caden is my daily reminder of this. 

Just 3 years ago I would have said you were out of your mind if you would have told me this is where I would be right now in my life (kids, living in Wichita Falls, working at an outpatient orthopedic PT clinic, trailer house at the grain bins?).  

So yes, I'm a little nervous for all the changes I have coming in the next year.  My friends tease me and tell me that I would be so bored if my life wasn't a little bit crazy.  It's not what most people would call ideal timing, but I know it's perfect for me! 

Caden's 1st Birthday Party

I'm back!  Things have been busy and stressful for me lately so I've been away from blogging.  I have so much to catch up on though so here we go...

Caden turned one on July 22, 2011.  We had a party for him at Cody's parents house that weekend.  It was a Dr. Seuss theme and we ate hamburgers for lunch and some people went swimming.  Caden is a much loved boy because he had quite a crowd (almost 50 of us, plus 6 other babies).  Of course we were running late to show up at the house and start getting things ready because in true Lacy form, we forgot the hamburger meat at our house and had to turn around and go get it.  We showed up right on time and Cody and I were running around trying to get the burgers made (which is more challenging in a crowd), then I was so busy trying to talk to everyone that I never even really took pictures and the few I did take came out awful.  So I apologize for my poor pictures.  Thankfully my SIL, Tamie, got some really good ones and is going to send me a CD of them later.

Diana, Kim and Sarah all drove in from 3 or 4 hours away.  They seriously love Caden so much!  Diana will even 'talk' to Caden on the phone on a regular basis... Cody just shakes his head.  I have the best friends!

Melanie, Dusty and my grandpa



Caden's 1st "Cindy cake".  Cody's mom makes the best cakes (taste and looks).  Not only are they amazing, but I love that someone in the family does it for us.  She even made our wedding cakes.

Sarah, Bryan and Caroline

Gigi (my mom) and my grandma







So maybe he wasn't happy the whole time...



Caden's new rocking bull from Gigi and Pop

Cody and Jason... boys will be boys

Kache and Caden

I had everyone write a short note for Caden in this book. 



The last gift Caden opened was from me and Cody and was matching 'Thing 1 and Thing 2' shirts for Caden and his new little brother/sister that will be here around March 13.  No one at the party knew we were expecting (except Kim who only knew because she came to visit the weekend before and could kind of tell) so it was really our way of telling everyone at the same time.

Cody and I really hate this kind of attention so neither of us really like telling others we are pregnant because people tend to make a big deal about it.  Does that make us weird?  We usually just approach it was a casual comment snuck in the conversation somewhere.  For example, when we were pregnant with Caden, I walked in my parents house and my dad was sitting there drinking whiskey and coke.  He rarely drinks so when I was teasing him about it, I asked if it was good time to tell him I was pregnant. 

Anyway, we wanted to tell everyone at once (learned that the hard way with Caden) so this was the best way to do it.  The problem was that when we held up the shirts and said "to match his new little brother or sister" we didn't exactly act excited so most people sat there in silence wondering why no one is saying anything.  Once Cindy asked if that's what we were telling them, then everyone started yelling/clapping.  Since Kim was the only one who knew, I had her run the video camera of all this.  It was funny to watch us flash the shirts real quick, sit in awkward silence, hear  Cindy's confirmation, hear all the screaming, and then my dad who was sitting next to Kim, looks straight into the camera and says "wait, what?!?!" 

Anyway, it was a great day.  Cody, Caden and I have been blessed with amazing family and great friends.  (More on pregnancy later)

Caden 12 months

Weight: 23lbs 12 oz (50-75%)

Length: 30 inches (50-75%)

Head Circumference: 18.5 inches (75%)

My big boy!  Dr. Yap actually started laughing so hard when he picked you up to test your reflexes at your 12 mo checkup because he was surprised at how heavy you were.  His actual words were, "oh my gosh mama, you're carrying around a tank!  This boy is solid!"

You LOVE attention, and will go to anybody.  You do get a little weirded out in crowds and unfamiliar areas though. 

You're a little chatterbox but still only say a few recognizable words (dada, Bailey, thank you and you have said Mama ONCE.  You sign milk, more, and all done...although sometimes I think you get them a little mixed up.  We're still working on teaching you the signs for "No" and "Stop", but you usually end up laughing at us when we try. 

You still LOVE to eat almost anything.  Ms. Bettye at daycare told me that 2 days after you started crawling you figured out that if you sit below the high chairs that other kids were in, they would occasionally drop food.  I wasn't even surprised :)

You enjoy digging though Pop's pocket.  He taught you how to use a pen by writing on your hand (thanks, dad). 

You LOVE and I mean LOVE music and when you hear it you grin from ear to ear and dance like crazy.

You pull up on anything/everything, cruise along furniture, scatter our pots and pans all over the house, walk if holding on to something/someone with one hand and can stand independently for about 2-3 seconds.  So far you have only taken one step without holding on.  You want so badly to walk without holding on but can't seem to get the confidence.

You enjoy swimming in Nonny and Poppy's pool.  You kick those little legs like crazy and love the water.

You have definitely learned how to throw a temper tantrum.  The good thing is that it doesn't happen too often yet. 

We love you more than words can express.  It's amazing to see you learn something new every day.  I love how you turn that head to one side when we're playing/eating and flash an ornery grin at me--it's almost like you've figured out that you're adorable and have learned to play it up. 

NOT our best picture.  Oh well, it beats my self-timer attempts on my camera.

"He got it from his mama..."

My Aunt Cindy text me this picture of me and my dad and told me she figured out where Caden gets his lip pushing-out thing from. I got a good laugh out of it anyway.  I'm guessing I was about 4 years old in this pic???? Maybe he will outgrow it before then. 

I should've known better...

I miss the days when that pee spot was much smaller.  This just reminds me how much my little guy has grown up. 

Caden 11 months

My sweet Caden, I cannot believe you are 11 months old!  You finally starting crawling (at about 10 months).  For a while you would just roll everywhere you wanted to go.  Then you finally figured out how to crawl, but even that you do in your own way.  You crawl "army style" and not on your hands and knees.  You have a fascination with Bailey's water bowl and play in it the second we take our eyes off you.  Your feelings get hurt by our tone when we tell you "no" so we're working on teaching you the signs for "no" and "stop". You walk if someone holds your hands or you have a toy to push and laugh the whole time!  You LOVE to eat almost anything.  You also try very hard to feed yourself with a spoon but can't quite seem to get the hang of it. 

You have such a wonderful personality.  You're very good natured (unless sleepy or hungry) and you crinkle your nose when you're having lots of fun.

Your tongue is your source of power--it's out any time you are concentrating, thinking, walking, etc. 

You've always pushed your lips out since you were just weeks old, but it's recently become a very common occurrence.  I'm not sure why you do it, but it makes me laugh every single time.

 You really get into pushing those lips out when you are angry.

You're first word that you intended to say was "Bailey" which actually sounds like "Gay-Gee".  You say it to any 4 legged animal you see (not just Bailey).  You're a little chatter box.  We just can't make out much else you say. 

I love walking in your room to wake you up and see that crinkle nosed grin and to hear you laugh as you start to stand up in your crib.  You're don't cuddle as much as you did when you were younger, but you're very easy to get to sleep as long as you are at home in your bed.  At weddings, parties, or hanging out with friends, you are such a good sport and usually never whine or cry a bit.  Everywhere we go, someone always comments on how great of a baby you are because you are so laid back.  You will, occasionally, throw a bit of a tantrum with us at home.

We thank God for blessing us with you!

"Sometimes I wish I lived in airstream..."

My front door view may not be a beach but it sure not too bad.

I love music.  I would usually rather sit in listen to music rather than watch t.v.  I can get lost in it and find a way to make almost any song meaningful to me.  Wouldn't it be great if music broke out during epic moments in our lives like it does on t.v.??  Too bad my singing is AWFUL...

I happen to LOVE Miranda Lambert's 'Airstream Song'.  Wouldn't it be great if we really did all live in airstreams, with a simple life?  I think we have a tendency to get wrapped up in the materialistic things in life and start lose sight of what's really important. 

For example, my current complaint...when are we going to buy nicer furniture and get rid of the stuff we have been using since we were young kids?  Or, wishing we could replace our gross carpet.

The reality is that although our house is small (and kind of ugly) we actually have everything we actually NEED.  And even if we did have the new furniture and carpet, we then would probably find other things we wanted. So like the song says, I'd always be unsatisfied...

Sometimes I wish I lived in airstream. Wouldn't it be great to be so simple?

"Sometimes I wish I lived in airstream homemade curtains

Lived just like a gypsy.

Break a heart, roll out of town

'Cause gypsies never get tied down

Sometimes I wish I lived on a mountain

Drank from a stream

Instead of a fountain

I'd stay there, top of the world

But I was born a red dirt girl.

Unbridled, or tethered in tide

the safety of the fence or the danger of the ride

I'll always be unsatisfied

Sometimes I wish I lived by a pier

In a lighthouse with a chandelier

I'd watch everybody's ships come in

And then I'd sail away with them

Unanchored in a storm

or safety on the shore

If this is all I need

Why do I want more?

Sometimes I wish I lived in airstream homemade curtains

lived just like a gypsy"

At least it wasn't E-Coli...

As it turns out, Caden had Salmonella when he was sick last week.  There are about a million ways he could have gotten it.  There's no treatment for it.  Just have to let it run it's course (which seemed to only take about 3-4 days).  He never acted like he felt too bad, just had bad diarrhea.  This poor boy sure is sick a lot.

In other news--we have a new dog.  This is Jake (aka Curly).  He showed up at our house/barn one Friday (we think someone dropped him off) and by late Saturday morning Cody had him in the yard with food and water.  We think he's less than a year old.  He does puppy things like chews up his collar, gets out of the yard, and digs.  Hopefully that all won't last long.  He's a good dog though and Bailey has someone to play with while we are at work.

Bailey and Jake

Baller

This video is a little behind.  Caden was actually 9 or 10 months old here (he hit 11 months yesterday).  This boy loves playing ball.